Sunday Downtime - All Evolve Media Sites are being migrated to a new data center Sunday Dec 11, 2016. The migration will occur during an 8 AM to 2 PM (Pacific Time) maintenance window. We will have up to 1 hour of downtime for any of our sites.

NHL Draft - ProspectsDiscuss hockey prospects from all over the world and the NHL Draft.

WHL Dmen in 2012 - Official Thread

The 2012 draft is going to be huge for blueliners...especially in the WHL. Even taking a look at this summer's Ivan Hlinka squad, 4 of the defenceman are from the WHL, Griffin Reinhart, Matt Dumba, Derrick Pouliot and Morgan Rielly.

That doesn't even touch on Ryan Murray, who played on the team last year as a very young 1993. He didn't look out of place at all, playing up to his competition during that event as well.

That also doesn't include players like Jaynen Rissling, Damon Severson, Dalton Thrower, Reid Gow and whoever else might make their way out of the woodwork. It also doesn't even touch on guys playing in other CHL leagues, the US or in Europe.

With those high calibre guys mentioned above, I wouldn't be shocked if there were 5 WHL defenseman taken in the top 12-15 picks next June.

Another kid who has impressed me is Josh Hanson. He was kept on a very tight leash last season because I think the hawks want to develop him slowly.

Good kid, graduated high school with honors at 16 (prior to last hockey season). Not as flashy a player as the others but he's definitely a player i'd look out for if he gets more ice time and puts it all together.

Ryan Murray is nothing short of phenomenal. You hear the hyperbole year after year about how X player is a future superstar but I have not been as impressed with a prospect I've viewed live as I have with Ryan Murray. Complete defenseman and doesn't seem to lack in any area.

Another kid who has impressed me is Josh Hanson. He was kept on a very tight leash last season because I think the hawks want to develop him slowly.

Good kid, graduated high school with honors at 16 (prior to last hockey season). Not as flashy a player as the others but he's definitely a player i'd look out for if he gets more ice time and puts it all together.

Ryan Murray is nothing short of phenomenal. You hear the hyperbole year after year about how X player is a future superstar but I have not been as impressed with a prospect I've viewed live as I have with Ryan Murray. Complete defenseman and doesn't seem to lack in any area.

I'm glad you touched on Hanson, he's a guy that gets frequently overlooked on that deep Portland team. With a good enough season, Hanson could go as high as the second round. Very intriguing prospect.

I think Ryan Murray is going to be a franchise defenseman in the NHL - a guy who isn't going to dominate with his numbers, but will consistently show up on a nightly basis and just do everything right.

As you know I am not a Pouliot fan and I think Brendan Leipsic should be a bit higher, but overall great list.

Fair enough.

I'm a big fan of Pouliot, actually. I personally think that with a lesser team, he would likely be able to show off his talent a little bit more, and thus likely improve his draft stock. He gets buried a bit, and as a whole, that Portland team can struggle in their own end at times. While he is a developing player in his own end, I definitely don't think he's as bad as some people have made him out to be.

If Brendan Leipsic has a big year, there's no question that he could move up the list. It was hard to put him ahead of Bourke or Severson at this point though, and there's no way you can put him with any of Murray, Reinhart, Dumba, Rielly, or Pouliot ... he simply hasn't had the same success. I'm a huge fan of Leipsic though, he's a real competitor for a little guy, and really stands out on that team of big, lumbering forwards. He could have a similar year to the one Tyler Ennis had in his draft year, wouldn't surprise me at all. He scored some huge goals for them last year, really seemed to step his game up when it mattered most.

I'm a big fan of Pouliot, actually. I personally think that with a lesser team, he would likely be able to show off his talent a little bit more, and thus likely improve his draft stock. He gets buried a bit, and as a whole, that Portland team can struggle in their own end at times. While he is a developing player in his own end, I definitely don't think he's as bad as some people have made him out to be.

If Brendan Leipsic has a big year, there's no question that he could move up the list. It was hard to put him ahead of Bourke or Severson at this point though, and there's no way you can put him with any of Murray, Reinhart, Dumba, Rielly, or Pouliot ... he simply hasn't had the same success. I'm a huge fan of Leipsic though, he's a real competitor for a little guy, and really stands out on that team of big, lumbering forwards. He could have a similar year to the one Tyler Ennis had in his draft year, wouldn't surprise me at all. He scored some huge goals for them last year, really seemed to step his game up when it mattered most.

The other WHL guy had him at #13, I have him slightly lower. He's in the Eastern Conference so he has had more viewings than I have, though I have seen him play quite a bit. He's on my radar, but I'd like to see a bit more offensive production out of him this year for sure. I like his two-way game, think he would benefit from getting some more strength next year.

He'll be in a bigger role with the Blades, so I'm sure that won't hurt his numbers. Could move up as the season wears on.